Drilling apparatus



1963 D. ROBBINS 3,089,549

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 03x INVENTOR.of)

Davis Robb/n:

BY W M fWm Rttorneys May 14, 1963 D. ROBBINS 3,089,549

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m O IN V EN TOR.

BY oav s RDAAM Attorneys May 14, 1963 D. ROBBINS 3,089,549

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Davls RoblnnsRttorneys May 14, 1963 D. ROBBINS 3,089,549

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 j g 5 INVENTOR.

Davis RObbHLS @Mfh Httorneys United States Patent 3,089,549 DRILLINGAPPARATUS Davis Robbins, Oneonta, Ala. (R0. Box 2664, Birmingham 2,Ala.) Filed Mar. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 12,632 1 Claim. (Cl. 175-85) Thisinvention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to meansfor drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth and is animprovement over the drilling apparatus described and claimed in myprior Patents Nos. 2,781,185 and 2,849,212, and entitled DrillingApparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide drilling apparatus which shallembody a horizontal frame including a carriage adapted for horizontalmovement within said frame and carrying a drive shaft which isdetachably connected to drill rod section-s, together with improvedmeans for moving the drill rod section into position to be attached tothe drive shaft.

Another object of my invention is to provide drilling apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall include improved means for moving adischarge housing toward and away from the hole being bored whereby thecuttings and debris forced out of the hole being bored pass into thedischarge housing.

A still further object of my invention is to provide drilling apparatusof the character designated which shall be simple of construction \andmanufacture and one which is adapted for drilling holes into the side ofa mass of earth at selected elevations and at selected inclinations.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 22of FIG. -1, certain parts including the means for reciprocating thecarriage being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmental view showing the extensible means foradjusting the position of the discharge housing relative to the holebeing drilled; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of thedrill rod sections :as they are added and removed.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, 1 show a translatable support unit 10 for supporting a frame1:1. As shown in FIG. 6, the frame 11 is mounted for pivotal movement ina horizontal plane relative to the translatable support unit 10. Thatis, the frame 11 carries suitable support rollers 12 which ride in anannular trackway 13 carried by the support unit 10. The frame 11 isrotated relative to the translatable support unit 10 by suitable meansand in a manner well understood in the art.

Pivotally connected to the forward end of the frame :11 by suitablepivot pins 14 :are fluid pressure operated cylinders 16 having dependingpiston rods 17. The lower ends of the piston rods 17 are pivotallyconnected by suitable pivot pins 18 to the forward portion of horizontalframe members 19 which are mounted at opposite sides of the frame 11, asclearly shown in FIG. 3. Pivotally connected to the rear portion of theframe 11 by suitable pivot pins 21 are fluid pressure operated cylinders22 which carry depending piston rods 23. The lowerends of the pistonrods are pivotally connected by suitable pivot pins 24 to the rearportion of the frames 19. Preferably, I provide four fluid pressurecylinders 22 and their associated piston rods 23, there being one oneach side of each frame 19. By providing the fluid pressure operatedmeans adjacent the front and rear of the frames 19, the frames may bemoved to selected elevations or moved to selected inclinations relativeto the horizontal.

Extending longitudinally of each horizontal frame 19 is an upper pair ofrails or guideways 26 and a lower pair of rails or guideways 27, asclearly shown in FIG. 2. The guideways 26 and 27 extend the length ofthe frame 19 and the upper guideways 26 support flanged rollers 28 whichare carried by a carriage 29. Mounted on the carriage 29 in position toengage the under surface of the guidew ays 27 are flanged rollers 31. Byproviding the flanged rollers 28 which engage the upper surface of theguideways 26 and the flanged rollers 31 which engage the under surfaceof the guideways 27, the carriage 29 is held against vertical movementrelative to the guideW-ays and at the same time is adapted for freelongitudinal movement along the guideways.

Mounted on the carriage 29 is a prime mover, such as an electric motor32 which is operatively connected to a transmission 33 for rotating ahollow driving head or shaft 34. The motor 32, the transmission 33, andthe drive shaft 34 are all carried by the carriage 29 whereby they areadapted for longitudinal movement along the guideways 26 and 27.

Connected to the carriage '29 are forwardly extending drive chains 36and rearwardly extending drive chains 37 which pass over terminalsprockets 38 and 39 and a pair of intermediate sprockets 41. As showninFIG. 1, the intermediate sprockets 41 are operatively connected to thepiston rod of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 42 whereby thesprockets 41 are moved longitudinally of the frame 19 to in turn movethe carriage 29 longitudinally of the frame. The sprocket drive for thecarriage is substantially the same as that shown and described in myPatent No. 2,849,212, dated August 26, 1958, and entitled DrillingApparatus. Since my present invention is not directed to the specificmeans for reciprocating the carriage 29 relative to the frame 19, nofurther description of the chain drive is deemed necessary.

The drive shaft 34 is provided with a threaded male coupling 43 which isadapted to engage the threaded female coupling of a drill rod section44, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the drill rodsection 44 is hollow for conveying air therethrough to clear the holebeing drilled of cuttings. Mounted on the end of the drill rod section44 opposite the drive shaft 34- is a drill bit 46.

Air under pressure is supplied to the hollow drill rod section 44 by asuitable flexible conduit 47 which is operatively connected to thehollow drive shaft 34 in a manner well understood in the art forsupplying air to a hollow rotary member. The conduit 47 also carrieselectrical leads for supplying electrical power for the motor 32.Electrical power may be supplied to the apparatus by a suitableelectrical conduit 50 which is supported by a boom 50 at the rear of theapparatus, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible conduit47 is carried by a suitable reel 48 mounted for rotation on supportbrackets 49 carried adjacent the rear end of each frame 19. Accordingly,as the carriage 29 is moved forwardly along the trackways 26 and 27, theflexible conduit 47 is unwound from the reel 48. Suitable means isprovided for rotating the reel 48 in the opposite direction when thecarriage 29 is moved toward the rear of the frame 19, whereby theflexible conduit 47 is wound about the reel.

Mounted at the forward end of the frame 19 and extending forwardlythereof is a pair of laterally spaced fluid pressure operated cylinders51 having forwardly extending piston rods 52. Mounted on each piston rod52, as shown in FIG. 4, is a discharge housing indicated generally at 53which is disposed to surround the upper portion of the drill rod section44, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the cuttings and debris forced out ofthe hole being drilled are not discharged into the atmosphere.Preferably, means, not shown, is provided for transferring the cuttingsand debris to a suitable discharge point. Secured to the rear portion ofthe discharge housing 53 is a rearwardly extending shield member 54which surrounds the upper portion of the piston rod 52 whereby foreignmaterials do not fall onto the piston rod as the discharge housing ismoved forwardly. By providing the fluid pressure operated cylinder 51and the piston rod 52, the discharge housing 53 may be moved axially ofthe drill rod section whereby the forward portion of the dischargehousing 53 is in contact with the mass of earth into which the drillenters. Preferably, the forward portion of the discharge housing 53 isin the form of a resilient member 55, such as rubber or the like.

Mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 56 carried by each side ofeach frame 19 is an elongated member 57. Secured to each elongatedmember 57 is a downwardly and inwardly extending operating arm or saddle58, as shown in FIG. 2. The saddle 58 projects upwardly above theelongated member 57 and the upper end thereof is pivotally connected bya suitable pivot pin 59 to a fluid pressure operated cylinder 61,whereby the saddle unit is rotated in the bearings 56. Outward movementof each saddle 58 is limited by an adjustable stop member 62 carried bythe upwardly projecting portion of the saddle member in position toengage a stationary part of the frame 19. Inward movement of each saddle58 is limited by an adjustable stop member 63 carried on the innersurface of each saddle in position to engage the bottom of the frame19'. A recess or groove 64 is provided in the inner surface of eachsaddle 58 for receiving other drill rod sections 44 which are disposedto be interposed between the drill rod section 44 and the drive shaft34.

Projecting upwardly within the groove 64 provided in each saddle 58 is abreak pin 66 which is adapted to project upwardly within openings 67 and67 carried by the drill rod sections 44 and 44 respectively, as the casemay be. That is, when it is desired to unscrew the drive shaft 34 fromthe adjacent female end of the drill rod section, the saddle 58 is movedupwardly whereby the break pin 66 enters the opening 67 or 67 to preventrotation of the drill rod section while the drive shaft is rotated in adirection to unscrew the same from the drill rod section.

Mounted for rotation adjacent the forward end of each frame 19 insuitable bearings 68 carried by opposite sides of each frame 19 is anelongated rotary member 69. Secured to each elongated member 69 is anoperating arm or saddle 71 having an upwardly projecting end pivotallyconnected to a fluid pressure operated cylinder 72 whereby the saddleunit is rotated in the bearings 68. The saddles 71 are identical inconstruction to the saddles 58, with the exception that the break pins66 are not provided on the saddles 71. That is, the saddle 71 isprovided with the recessed portions 64 for receiving the forward ends ofthe drill rod sections 44 but is not provided with break pins 66.

Mounted adjacent opposite sides of the frame 11 are vertically extendingguideways 73, as shown in FIG. 3. Mounted on each of the frames 19 is aninwardly extending support member 74 which carries a flanged roller 76adjacent the inner end thereof disposed to engage the guideways 73 tothereby provide a surface against which the frames 19 may exert a forceagainst and at the same time permit free vertical adjustment of theframes 19 to selected elevations or inclinations.

Mounted adjacent the forward end of each frame 19 is a fluid pressureoperated cylinder 77 which carries a break pin 78 that is adapted toenter an opening 67 or 67*, as

the case may be, to restrain rotation of the drill rod section.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatuswill be readily understood. The horizontal frames 19 are positioned atthe proper elevation or inclination by actuating the fluid pressureoperated cylinders 16 and 22 at the forward and rear ends of theapparatus. With the drill rod section 44 connected to the drive shaft34, the motor 32 is energized whereby the drill bit 46 rotates. Thefluid pressure operated cylinder 42 is then actuated to cause the entirecarriage 29, including the motor 32 and the transmission to move forwardalong the guideways 26 and 27, thus drilling an opening into the side ofa mass of earth indicated at E in FIG. 5. While I have described thedrill as entering a mass of earth, it is contemplated that the termearth shall include dirt, rock, ore, coal and any similar material intowhich openings are drilled.

After the drill rod section 44 has entered the mass of earth, thecylinder 77 is actuated whereby the break pin 78 enters the opening 67to restrain rotation of the drill rod section 44. The drive shaft 34 isthen rotated in a direction whereby the drive shaft is unscrewed fromthe drill section 44. The carriage 29, together with the drive shaft 34is then moved to the rear of the frame 19. The fluid pressure operatedcylinders 61 and 72 are then actuated whereby the saddles 58 and 71swing the subjacent drill rod section 44 into position between the driveshaft 34 and the drill rod section 44. The male connection 43 of thedrive shaft is then rotated and moved into threaded engagement with theadjacent female end of the drill rod section 44 The drill rod section 44is held against rotation while the male end 43 is rotated due to thefact that the pin 66 enters the opening 67 in the adjacent end of thedrill rod section 44 After the drive shaft 34 is connected to the drillsection 44 the saddles 58 are swung downwardly whereby the break pins 66are removed from the openings 67 and the rear end of the drill rodsection 44 is thus supported by the drive shaft 34. The male and 43 ofthe drill rod section 44 is then moved into the adjacent female end ofthe drill rod section 44 and the drive shaft 34 is rotated whereby thedrill rod section 44 is connected to the drill rod section 44. The driveshaft 34 is continued to rotate until the drill rod section 44 entersthe earth E. The other drill rod section 44 is then added if it isdesired to drill an opening having a length greater than two drill rodsections. While I have shown only two drill rod sections 44 as beingcarried by the saddle members, it will be apparent that a plurality ofsuch drill rod sections may be employed.

To return the drill rod section 44 to the saddles, the carriage 29 ismoved toward the rear of the frame 19 whereby the drill rod section 44is removed from the earth E as shown in FIG. 5. The saddles 71 are thenswung up into engagement with the under surface of the drill rod section44 and the cylinder 77 is actuated whereby the pin 78 enters the opening67 to prevent rotation of drill rod section 44. The drive shaft 34 isthen driven in a direction to unscrew the male connection 43 from thefemale connection of the drill rod section 44. It will be noted that thethreaded connection between the male coupling 43 and the female couplingof the rod section 44 may be made tighter than the threaded connectionbetween the male coupling 43 and the female coupling of the rod section44, due to the fact that the break pins 66 are inserted in the openings67 while the joint is made between the male coupling 43 and the adjacentfemale end of the rod section 44*. Accordingly, the connection betweenmembers 4?: and 44 will be broken or unscrewed before the release of thethreaded connection between the members 43 and 44 The drill rod section44 is then separated from the drill rod section 44 by moving thecarriage 29, together with the drive shaft 34 toward the rear of theframe. The saddles 58 are then raised into position with the break pin66 entering the openings 67 in the drill rod section 44. The drive shaft.34 is then rotated whereby the drive shaft is scparated from the drillrod section 44 After separating the drive shaft 34 from the drill rodsection 4 the saddies 58 and 71 are lowered to the position shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The carriage 29, together with the drive shaft 4 is thenmoved toward the forward end of the frame whereby the drive shaft ismoved into threaded engagement with the drill rod section 44. The breakpin 78 is then removed from opening 67 and the drill rod section 44 iswithdrawn from the opening which is drilled into the side of the earth.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that l have devised an improvedapparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth. Byproviding a carriage which is adapted for reciprocation within ahorizontal frame, together with extensible means for supplying power tothe prime mover which rotates the drive shaft and extensible means forsupplying air under pressure to the interior of the hollow drill rodswhereby the debris and cuttings are forced outwardly of the hole beingbored, my improved apparatus is adapted for continuous drillingoperation until a drill rod section is moved its entire length into theearth. By providing the saddle members which readily position the drillrod sections between the drive shaft and the drill rod section alreadywithin the confines of the earth, the drill rod sections are added orremoved in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort. Also, byprovid ing an extensible discharge housing adjacent the forward end ofthe frame which encircles the portion of the drill rod section at thepoint of entry into the earth, the cuttings and debris are notdischarged into the atmosphere but are disposed of in a controlledmanner. Furthermore, by providing a shield member which moves with thedischarge housing and extends over the piston rod of the extensiblesection of the discharge housing, foreign materials do not enter thisarea and damage the piston rod and the fluid pressure operated cylinder.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth comprising(a) a generally horizontal translatable frame,

([1) parallel guideways mounted on said frame and extendinglongitudinally thereof,

() a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement along said guideways,

(d) a drive shaft carried by said carriage,

(e) power operated drive means mounted on said carriage to rotate saiddrive shaft,

(f) extensible means carried by said frame and operatively connected tosaid drive means for supplying power thereto,

(g) a hollow drill rod section,

(It) means detachably connecting one end of said drill rod section tosaid drive shaft,

(i) a hollow drill bit connected to the other end of said drill rodsection,

(j) extensible means carried by said frame and operatively connected tosaid hollow drill rod section for supplying air to said hollow drill rodsection to clean the hole being bored of cuttings,

(k) a longitudinally adjustable discharge housing carried by said framefor said cuttings having a resilient portion surrounding at least aportion of the drill rod section in position to be adjacent andoutwardly of the mass of earth into which the hole is being bored,

(I) inwardly extending support arms mounted on said frame for pivotalmovement in generally vertical planes adjacent each end of said frame inposition to extend inwardly beneath said drill rod section forsupporting at "least one other drill rod section,

( m) an upwardly projecting pin carried by the support arm nearest thedrive shaft,

(12) there being a recess in the end of each drill rod section adjacentsaid pin for receiving said pin whereby rotation of the drill rodsection is restrained While said pin is in the recess,

(0) there being upwardly opening recesses adjacent the inner ends ofsaid arms for receiving said drill rod sections, and

(p) power operated means carried by said frame and operatively connectedto said arms for moving said arms about their pivot points whereby saidother drill rod section is moved selectively in a vertical directioninto and out of position between said drive shaft and the firstmentioned drill rod section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,285,712 Hughes Nov. 26, 1918 1,932,068 Englebright et al Oct. 24, 19332,107,552 Smith Feb. 8, 1938 2,149,348 Kelly Mar. 7, 1939 2,730,332 HaleJan. 10, 1956 2,771,271 Lawson Nov. 21, 1956 2,781,185 Robbins Feb. 12,1957 2,823,898 Bankston Feb. 18, 1958 2,849,212 Robbins Aug. 26, 19582,868,508 Cowan Jan. 13, 1959 2,879,034 Cowan Mar. 24, 1959 2,913,226Pritchard et al Nov. 17, 1959

